Avell



(No Model.)

J. L. BLAGKWELL.

CURRENT COLLECTOR FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAYS. No. 388,247.

Patented Aug. 21, 1888.

WITNESSES.

UNITED STATES PATENT EFicE.

JOSIAH LOWV BLAOKWELL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CURRENT-COLLECTOR FOR ELECTRlC RAILWAYS.

EPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 388,247, dated August21, 1888.

Application filed Juy 3, 1888. Serial 3270.278355].

(No model.\

. ors for Electric Railways, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electric railways wherein the main supply-wireis inclosed in a slotted conduit beneath thosurfaee ofthestre 2t, andconnection therewith maintained by a contact device or plow extendingfrom an electrically-propelled vehicle into the conduit.

My invention consists in providing a vehicle so propelled with asupplementary contact device to be used in emergenciesgvhich is adaptedto beinserted into the slot of a conduit and take the place of thenormal contact device in case of accident. This supplementary contact device is provided with wheels, by which it may ride upon the surface ofthe conduit, so that when it is brought into use no special attachmentto the main vehicle is necessary, an ordinary hook or snap serving todraw it along the line.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure1 is a side elevation ofan electricallypropelled car embodying myinvention; and Fig. 2 is a transverse section of a slotted conduit,showing the supplementary contact device in position.

In the said drawings, A represents a car; B, a plow-contact devicesuspended therefrom, of any desired construction.

Grcpresents a supplementary contact device attached to a small truck, D,adapted to ride upon the conduit, having apropelling-wire,E,

which is provided with a ring adapted to engage with hook F. This hook Fis in electrical connection with the normal contact device B, and alsowith one terminal of the propelling motor. In caseofaccident to the maincontact device B, it is only necessary to insert the supplementarydevice 0 into the conduit and hook E and F together. As shown in Fig. 2,the contactO is preferably of the form shown in Patent No. 338,174, to\Valter H. Knight,

wherein the contact-piece on the lower end of 50 the shank extendingthrough the slot is of such a thickness that it may be inserted throughthe slot of the conduit at any point.

\Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with an electricallypropelled vehicle provided witha normal contact device, of asupplementary contact device provided witha truck adapted to ride on the surface of the conduit, and a wire forconnecting it to the vehicle.

2. The combination, with an electrically propelled-vehicle having anormal contact device and an exposed hook or connection-point inelectrical communication with the propelling-motor, of a supplementarycontact device having a truck adapted to ride upon the surface of theconduit, with means for connecting it to the said exposed point.

3. A supplementary contact device for an electric railway having a truckadapted to ride on the surface of a conduit, and a contact-piece thinnerthan the width of the slot, so as to be inserted therein at any point.

JOSIAH LOW BLAOKVVELL.

Witnesses:

R0131. W. BLAcKwELL, J ULIEN M. ELLIOT.

